Durban - One of the five “Kings Park brawlers” charged in connection with the murder of former Royal Marine Brett Williams at the stadium in March is off the hook.
On Tuesday, charges were withdrawn against Grant Cramer who, while not charged with Williams’s murder, had been charged with assaulting him in a separate incident during which Williams apparently lost consciousness.
And while initially listed as a witness, it is not likely that Cramer will be called to testify against his co-accused - brothers Blayne and Kyle Shepard, Andries “AJ” van der Merwe and Dustin van Wyk - because, sources said, his statement took the case against them no further.
It was also confirmed that the trial would take place in the regional court - as opposed to the high court - before senior magistrate Trevor Levitt, starting in March.
When the four remaining accused appeared before him on Tuesday, he warned them that in terms of the minimum sentences act, if convicted they could face between 15 and 25 years in prison, depending on the circumstances and on whether they had previous convictions.
“I am telling you this so that it does not take you by surprise. Your lawyers will explain more. There can be no suspended sentence or a fine,” he said.
Prosecutor Krishen Shah said that he would finalise the charge sheet and the list of witnesses by the end of this month.
The attack on Williams, a visitor from Britain, occurred within the stadium precinct after a rugby match between the Sharks and the Rebels.
Apart from the murder charge, the accused are also facing three charges of assault and one of crimen injuria relating to alleged assaults on security guards.
The Mercury